Check out these Northern Kentucky parks and preserves
While Red River Gorge and Natural Bridge may seem like the best options to enjoy the beauty of the Bluegrass state, you don’t have to leave Northern Kentucky to find fresh air and stunning views. The state’s three northernmost counties and their several parks and preserves offer the perfect excuse to get outside. Here’s your guide to some of NKY’s best parks.
Devou Park
Perhaps the flagship park of the region, Devou Park in Covington spans over 700 acres. Visitors can enjoy hiking and biking trails, an 18-hole golf course, a disc golf course and the Behringer-Crawford Museum, a 1950s house tracing regional history. The pièce de résistance of the park is Memorial Overlook, a green space providing panoramic views of Cincinnati and Covington.
1201 Park Drive, Covington, KY 41011
Big Bone Lick State Park
Big Bone Lick State Historic Site in Union offers rich prehistoric artifacts not too far from your backyard. Sometimes called the “Birthplace of American Vertebrate Paleontology,” the park offers visitors a chance to view a live bison herd and hike through the 4.5 miles of trails. The park’s museum provides educational exhibits detailing the area’s geological and paleontological history. There, visitors can see fossilized remains of Ice Age mammals.
3380 Beaver Road, Union, KY 41091
Boone Cliffs Natural Reserve
Boone Cliffs State Nature Preserve in Burlington, spans 74 acres of old-growth forest and features 20 to 50-foot conglomerate cliffs formed by ancient glacial activity. Its 1.7-mile loop trail offers moderately challenging terrain for those looking for a bit of challenge. Moreover, the park’s diverse flora and fauna make it ideal for spotting wildflowers and birdlife. Reservations are required for visits.
4700 Middle Creek Road, Burlington, KY 41005
Lincoln Ridge Park
Lincoln Ridge Park in Independence, a 78-acre park, offers park-goers unpaved hiking trails, two playgrounds and two fishing ponds. The park also includes a 24-hole disc golf course, baseball and soccer fields, horseshoe pits and three shelter houses available for reservation.
420 Independence Station Road, Independence, KY 41051
Bellevue Beach Park
Located on the former site of Queen City Beach, a popular bathing resort in the early 1900s,
Bellevue Beach Park is a riverside park offering views of the Ohio River and the Cincinnati skyline. Featuring open green spaces, the park serves as a venue for various local events, including concerts and festivals.
643-665 Frank Benke Way, Bellevue, KY 41073
St. Anne’s Woods and Wetlands
St. Anne’s Woods and Wetlands in Melbourne is unique due to its encompassing of seasonal wetlands. Once part of the St. Anne Convent grounds, this land was acquired by the Campbell County Conservation District in 2013 to preserve its ecological significance. Visitors can explore the trail systems and observe the wildlife. The area also holds special interest, having been featured in the 1988 film “Rain Man,” winner of Best Picture at the 61st Academy Awards.
Anderson Lane, Melbourne, KY 41059
